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The snow starts to come down heavier, which is expected this time of year I haul my freshly cut wood onto the porch ando todown in the middle of the bed, I hit play, and Noelle’s voice fills the roo s I want to do to her

Chapter 3

Noelle

Sain, I knowfour tiotten it to work My only other option was s either Glancing out the , I can see the snow starting to coh to make me think it would cause internet issues

“Da a silent prayer, and all the lights go out on it Dead Like ht makes my stomach turn sour No more Alex Maybe he won’t fire lance at the clock and see it’s already five pis closed There’s no way I can even pack up and go to a local coffee shop to use their Wi-Fi to send the file

My options are running out No, not running out I have none Zero I’m screwed Maybe I can call and explain and ive it a shot I call Alex It’s so I’ve never done before because he always callsto voiceI rollit’s none ofin front of a fire with his fa an oh-so-perfect Christmas I’m sure it’s like one of those sappy ro down on the couch, I beginthe loss of the best contract I’ve ever had Screw that It isn’t the job I’, it’s him He seems to have this weird hold on me How have I latched myself onto so personal about thes from hiue, but it just never comes

When s, it makesto see who it is

“Alex?” I say into the phone, hating the way my voice comes out all breathy like I just ran ame drop back down onto the couch

“No one, Moet into it with her about an iinary relationship with a man who is essentially my boss She’d ask me what he looks like, how often ent out, on and on All things I couldn’t answer, and that’s when she’d really start in onmore social and how I shouldwithwith me I’m just a homebody I haven’t found a person ants to be a horeat onabout a man I’ve never even ain, but I know she means well I may not click with myon a last-et a hold of hi it will end the questions and we can change the topic I reach for one of the cookies on the plate I’d set out on the coffee table and take a bite The sweetness does nothing toto need cake for that

“He’s probably with his family like you should be Is this project the reason you decided not to join us? I bet you took on a job just so you couldn’t come this Christmas” The huff in her voice is one I’m all too used to It works better on my father than me

“I wasn’t invited” I don’t ht now Since Iparties andChristmas in random places in fancy hotels

“You’re always invited” The hurt in her voice uilty I know I’et a call or so the cookie back onto the plate and heading towards the front door entryway I keep a basket on the table there and always throwat the pile asand how she wishes I was there